William FearsBiography
For
Bollinger County, Missouri

Soon after their
union and before
their first child was born, they separated.

Mrs.
Elizabeth Fears was
afterward married to Archibald Moore, by whom she was the mother
of six
children.

William Fears was born in 1834, and was
reared on a farm,
assisting with the work until he was thirteen years of age,
when, with
his mother and stepfather, he came to Missouri, and located in
what is
now Bollinger County.

Here his mother died at the age
of forty-seven
years.

In 1870 William Fears was united in marriage
with Rebecca A.
Ladd, a native of Southeast Missouri, born in 1857.

Her
parents Elisha
and Elizabeth (Kerr) Ladd, were born in 1821 and 1825,
respectively.
Elisa Ladd was born in Kentucky, but settled in Missouri in
early life.

He died December 20, 1871, and his wife died on the 30th of May,
1862.

They were parents of nine children - six girls and three boys.

Mr.
Fears owns 320 acres of fertile land, and is one of the leading
farmers
in Bollinger County.

The family residence is in a
romantic place.
Surrounding it are mounds supposed to have been erected by
Mound-Builders.

Mr. and Mrs. Fears have three children
Benjamin F.,
John Wesley, and Dora Iona.